An extraordinary plenary session was convened in Parliament on Thursday to discuss and vote on a proposal — tabled by ruling PASOK MPs — to set up a Parliamentary preliminary examination committee to investigate former defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos’ involvement in alleged illegalities concerning the purchase of four German-made submarines by the Hellenic Navy.
Deputies voted 226-9 for the probe into the 2000 contract, awarded to Greece’s Hellenic Shipyards and Germany’s Howaldswerke-Deutsche Werft and Ferrostaal. Another 15 of the 250 lawmakers present cast blank or invalid ballots, or did not vote.
Following Thursday’s vote, a parliamentary committee will hold a preliminary investigation into whether Akis Tsochadzopoulos bears criminal responsibility for possible bribery and money-laundering over the deal for the three Type 214 submarines.
Tsochadzopoulos was defence minister from 1996-2001, and was a Socialist party secretary in the 1990s. He denies wrongdoing.
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